U.S. patent application number 13/877499 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-26 for operator selecting apparatus and method for selecting a home operator for each communication device in a group.
This patent application is currently assigned to Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ). The applicant listed for this patent is Shingo Murakami, Toshikane Oda, Shinta Sugimoto. Invention is credited to Shingo Murakami, Toshikane Oda, Shinta Sugimoto.
Application Number | 20130252579 13/877499 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45974852 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130252579 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sugimoto; Shinta ; et
al. |
September 26, 2013 |
Operator Selecting Apparatus And Method For Selecting A Home
Operator For Each Communication Device In A Group
Abstract
An operator selecting apparatus and a method for selecting a
home operator for each communication device in a group. A first
selecting unit of the operator selecting apparatus selects, for
each quality-oriented communication device in the group, a
candidate operator out of a plurality of the candidate operators
that is determined based on the quality information to provide the
best quality of service to the communication device. The second
selecting unit of the operator selecting apparatus then selects,
for each cost-oriented communication device in the group, based on
the billing system and a number of quality-oriented communication
devices assigned to the each candidate operator as a result of the
selection by the first selecting unit, a candidate operator out of
the plurality of the candidate operators such that a total cost for
all the communication devices in the group becomes lowest.
Inventors: |
Sugimoto; Shinta; (Kanagawa,
JP) ; Murakami; Shingo; (Kanagawa, JP) ; Oda;
Toshikane; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sugimoto; Shinta
Murakami; Shingo
Oda; Toshikane |
Kanagawa
Kanagawa
Tokyo |
|
JP
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson
(publ)
Stockholm
SE
|
Family ID: |
45974852 |
Appl. No.: |
13/877499 |
Filed: |
October 22, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
October 22, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2010/069238 |
371 Date: |
June 5, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/406 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 15/8083 20130101;
H04L 12/14 20130101; H04M 15/8016 20130101; H04M 15/43 20130101;
H04M 15/765 20130101; H04W 48/18 20130101; H04W 4/24 20130101; H04M
15/8033 20130101; H04M 15/49 20130101; H04M 15/8044 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/406 |
International
Class: |
H04W 48/18 20060101
H04W048/18 |
Claims
1. An operator selecting apparatus for selecting, for each
communication device in a group, a home operator out of a plurality
of candidate operators, wherein each candidate operator has a
billing system regarding a service as a home operator and wherein
the billing system of at least one of the candidate operators is
configured to provide a discount in accordance with an increase of
communication devices in the group for which the candidate operator
is selected, the operator selecting apparatus comprising: a
receiving unit that receives group information that defines the
group and class information of said each communication device in
the group, the class information specifying whether the
communication device is a quality-oriented communication device
that prioritizes quality of service over cost or a cost-oriented
communication device that prioritizes cost over quality of service;
a billing system obtaining unit that obtains information
representing the billing system of said each candidate operator; a
quality information obtaining unit that obtains quality information
that specifies quality of service provided to said each
communication device by said each candidate operator; a first
selecting unit that selects, for each quality-oriented
communication device in the group, a candidate operator out of the
plurality of the candidate operators that is determined based on
the quality information to provide the best quality of service to
the communication device; and a second selecting unit that selects,
for each cost-oriented communication device in the group, based on
the billing system and a number of quality-oriented communication
devices assigned to said each candidate operator as a result of the
selection by the first selecting unit, a candidate operator out of
the plurality of the candidate operators such that a total cost for
all the communication devices in the group becomes lowest.
2. The operator selecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the quality information obtaining unit obtains, as the quality
information, signal strength information of said each candidate
operator from said each communication device, the signal strength
information indicating signal strength of a radio signal received
by the communication device; and the first selecting unit
determines, for said each quality-oriented communication device in
the group, based on the signal strength information, that a
candidate operator out of the plurality of the candidate operators,
whose signal strength of a radio signal received by the
communication device is strongest, provides the best quality of
service to the communication device.
3. The operator selecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the receiving unit further receives a requested quality of service
indicator of said each communication device, the requested quality
of service indicator indicating a class of quality of service
requested for the communication device; the quality information
obtaining unit obtains, as the quality information, a supported
quality of service indicator of said each candidate operator from
said each candidate operator, the supported quality of service
indicator indicating a class of quality of service supported by the
candidate operator; and the first selecting unit determines, for
said each quality-oriented communication device in the group, based
on the requested quality of service indicator and the supported
quality of service indicator, that a candidate operator out of the
plurality of the candidate operators, which supports the class of
quality of service requested for the communication device, provides
the best quality of service to the communication device.
4. The operator selecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the receiving unit further receives a requested quality of service
indicator of said each communication device, the requested quality
of service indicator indicating a class of quality of service
requested for the communication device; the quality information
obtaining unit obtains, as the quality information, signal strength
information of said each candidate operator from said each
communication device and a supported quality of service indicator
of said each candidate operator from said each candidate operator,
the signal strength information indicating signal strength of a
radio signal received by the communication device and the supported
quality of service indicator indicating a class of quality of
service supported by the candidate operator; and the first
selecting unit detects, for said each quality-oriented
communication device in the group, based on the signal strength
information, one or more candidate operators out of the plurality
of the candidate operators whose signal strength of a radio signal
received by the communication device is strongest, and determines,
based on the requested quality of service indicator and the
supported quality of service indicator, that a candidate operator
out of the detected one or more candidate operators, which supports
the class of quality of service requested for the communication
device, provides the best quality of service to the communication
device.
5. The operator selecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the first selecting unit responds to determining that two or more
candidate operators provide the best quality of service, by
selecting, based on the billing system, a candidate operator out of
said two or more candidate operators whose cost for the
communication device is lowest.
6. The operator selecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the second selecting unit performs the selection such that a total
cost for all the communication devices in the group becomes lowest
and while satisfying a condition that quality of service provided
to said each cost-oriented communication device does not fall below
a threshold.
7. The operator selecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
in response to the quality information obtaining unit newly
obtaining the quality information that differs from the previously
obtained quality information, the first and second selecting units
perform the selection again based on the newly obtained quality
information.
8. The operator selecting apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: an acquiring unit that acquires, for said each
communication device, subscription information that enables the
communication device to be served by the candidate operator
selected by the first or second selecting unit; and a forwarding
unit that forwards, to said each communication device, the
corresponding subscription information acquired by the acquiring
unit.
9. A method, executed by an operator selecting apparatus, for
selecting, for each communication device in a group, a home
operator out of a plurality of candidate operators, wherein each
candidate operator has a billing system regarding a service as a
home operator and wherein the billing system of at least one of the
candidate operators is configured to provide a discount in
accordance with an increase of communication devices in the group
for which the candidate operator is selected, the method
comprising: receiving group information that defines the group and
class information of said each communication device in the group,
the class information specifying whether the communication device
is a quality-oriented communication device that prioritizes quality
of service over cost or a cost-oriented communication device that
prioritizes cost over quality of service; obtaining information
representing the billing system of said each candidate operator;
obtaining quality information that specifies quality of service
provided to said each communication device by said each candidate
operator; first selecting, for each quality-oriented communication
device in the group, a candidate operator out of the plurality of
the candidate operators that is determined based on the quality
information to provide the best quality of service to the
communication device; and second selecting, for each cost-oriented
communication device in the group, based on the billing system and
a number of quality-oriented communication devices assigned to said
each candidate operator as a result of the selection in the first
selecting, a candidate operator out of the plurality of the
candidate operators such that a total cost for all the
communication devices in the group becomes lowest.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: obtaining, as the
quality information, signal strength information of said each
candidate operator from said each communication device, the signal
strength information indicating signal strength of a radio signal
received by the communication device; and determining, for said
each quality-oriented communication device in the group, based on
the signal strength information, that a candidate operator out of
the plurality of the candidate operators, whose signal strength of
a radio signal received by the communication device is strongest,
provides the best quality of service to the communication
device.
11. The method of claim 9, further comprising: receiving a
requested quality of service indicator of said each communication
device, the requested quality of service indicator indicating a
class of quality of service requested for the communication device;
obtaining, as the quality information, a supported quality of
service indicator of said each candidate operator from said each
candidate operator, the supported quality of service indicator
indicating a class of quality of service supported by the candidate
operator; and determining, for said each quality-oriented
communication device in the group, based on the requested quality
of service indicator and the supported quality of service
indicator, that a candidate operator out of the plurality of the
candidate operators, which supports the class of quality of service
requested for the communication device, provides the best quality
of service to the communication device.
12. The method of claim 9, further comprising: receiving a
requested quality of service indicator of said each communication
device, the requested quality of service indicator indicating a
class of quality of service requested for the communication device;
obtaining, as the quality information, signal strength information
of said each candidate operator from said each communication device
and a supported quality of service indicator of said each candidate
operator from said each candidate operator, the signal strength
information indicating signal strength of a radio signal received
by the communication device and the supported quality of service
indicator indicating a class of quality of service supported by the
candidate operator; and detecting, for said each quality-oriented
communication device in the group, based on the signal strength
information, one or more candidate operators out of the plurality
of the candidate operators whose signal strength of a radio signal
received by the communication device is strongest, and determines,
based on the requested quality of service indicator and the
supported quality of service indicator, that a candidate operator
out of the detected one or more candidate operators, which supports
the class of quality of service requested for the communication
device, provides the best quality of service to the communication
device.
13. The method of claim 9, further comprising: responding to
determining that two or more candidate operators provide the best
quality of service, by selecting, based on the billing system, a
candidate operator out of said two or more candidate operators
whose cost for the communication device is lowest.
14. The method of claim 9, further comprising: performing the
second selecting such that a total cost for all the communication
devices in the group becomes lowest and while satisfying a
condition that quality of service provided to said each
cost-oriented communication device does not fall below a
threshold.
15. The method of claim 9, further comprising: in response to newly
obtaining the quality information that differs from the previously
obtained quality information, the perform the first and second
selecting again based on the newly obtained quality
information.
16. The method of claim 9, further comprising: acquiring, for said
each communication device, subscription information that enables
the communication device to be served by the candidate operator
selected by the first or second selecting unit; and forwarding, to
said each communication device, the corresponding subscription
information.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention generally relates to an operator
selecting apparatus and a method for selecting a home operator for
each communication device in a group.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) discusses
remote provisioning of subscription for Machine-to-Machine
equipment (M2ME) (see 3GPP TR 33.812 V9.0.0). According to TR
33.812, M2ME, which is a kind of a communication device, is
provided with a temporary private identity called a Provisional
Connectivity ID (PCID). The PCID follows the same format as an
International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), and a network
operator identified by the PCID is called a Registration Operator
(RO). The M2ME accesses the RO using the PCID, and requests for
subscription information called a Machine Communication Identity
Module (MCIM). Upon receipt of such a request, the RO accesses
another network operator called a Selected Home Operator (SHO),
receives an MCIM issued by the SHO, and forwards the MCIM to the
M2ME.
[0003] In this way, the M2ME is able to obtain the MCIM from the
SHO via the RO using the PCID just one time, and thereafter, the
M2ME is able to attach itself to a 3GPP network using the MCIM.
[0004] The mechanism of TR 33.812 is convenient for a user of a
communication device such as a mobile phone in that it is possible
for the user to obtain subscription information (i.e., an MCIM,
which equates to a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) in
this context) for the communication device via a network.
[0005] Meanwhile, a selection of a network operator as an SHO is
important for a user of M2ME, because network operator billing
systems and quality of service differ from one another. However, it
is somewhat complicated and cumbersome for the user to identify the
"best" network operator in terms of the balance between cost and
quality. This is particularly the case when a single user owns and
maintains a plurality of (typically, a large number of) M2MEs. One
of the causes of such complexity is that some network operators
offer a price discount to a subscriber if the subscriber makes
subscription to the same network operator for a large number of
communication devices such as M2ME. Accordingly, for a large number
of communication devices, it will be quite complicated to achieve a
good balance between the total cost and the overall quality while
taking price discounts into account.
[0006] However, there is no mechanism in the art that facilitates
the selection of a home operator (i.e., an SHO) for a large number
of communication devices while taking both cost and quality into
account.
SUMMARY
[0007] The present invention is intended to address the
above-described problem, and it is a feature thereof to introduce a
mechanism that facilitates the selection of a home operator for a
large number of communication devices while taking both cost and
quality into account.
[0008] According to the first aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an operator selecting apparatus for selecting,
for each communication device in a group, a home operator out of a
plurality of candidate operators, wherein each candidate operator
has a billing system regarding a service as a home operator and
wherein the billing system of at least one of the candidate
operators is configured to provide a discount in accordance with an
increase of communication devices in the group for which the
candidate operator is selected, the operator selecting apparatus
comprising: a receiving unit that receives group information that
defines the group and class information of the each communication
device in the group, the class information specifying whether the
communication device is a quality-oriented communication device
that prioritizes quality of service over cost or a cost-oriented
communication device that prioritizes cost over quality of service;
a billing system obtaining unit that obtains information
representing the billing system of the each candidate operator; a
quality information obtaining unit that obtains quality information
that specifies quality of service provided to the each
communication device by the each candidate operator; a first
selecting unit that selects, for each quality-oriented
communication device in the group, a candidate operator out of the
plurality of the candidate operators that is determined based on
the quality information to provide the best quality of service to
the communication device; and a second selecting unit that selects,
for each cost-oriented communication device in the group, based on
the billing system and a number of quality-oriented communication
devices assigned to the each candidate operator as a result of the
selection by the first selecting unit, a candidate operator out of
the plurality of the candidate operators such that a total cost for
all the communication devices in the group becomes lowest.
[0009] According to the second aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a method, executed by an operator selecting
apparatus, for selecting, for each communication device in a group,
a home operator out of a plurality of candidate operators, wherein
each candidate operator has a billing system regarding a service as
a home operator and wherein the billing system of at least one of
the candidate operators is configured to provide a discount in
accordance with an increase of communication devices in the group
for which the candidate operator is selected, the operator
selecting apparatus comprising: a receiving step of receiving group
information that defines the group and class information of the
each communication device in the group, the class information
specifying whether the communication device is a quality-oriented
communication device that prioritizes quality of service over cost
or a cost-oriented communication device that prioritizes cost over
quality of service; a billing system obtaining step of obtaining
information representing the billing system of the each candidate
operator; a quality information obtaining step of obtaining quality
information that specifies quality of service provided to the each
communication device by the each candidate operator; a first
selecting step of selecting, for each quality-oriented
communication device in the group, a candidate operator out of the
plurality of the candidate operators that is determined based on
the quality information to provide the best quality of service to
the communication device; and a second selecting step of selecting,
for each cost-oriented communication device in the group, based on
the billing system and a number of quality-oriented communication
devices assigned to the each candidate operator as a result of the
selection in the first selecting step, a candidate operator out of
the plurality of the candidate operators such that a total cost for
all the communication devices in the group becomes lowest.
[0010] Further features of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments
with reference to the attached drawings, in which like reference
characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the
figures thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates an overview of a network system 100
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed configuration of the operator
selecting apparatus 105;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of the operator
selecting procedure executed by the operator selecting apparatus
105 according to the embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an example of
the detailed process in step S304 of FIG. 3;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a diagram for illustrating the re-selection of a
home operator executed when the signal strength information
changes; and
[0016] FIG. 6 is a diagram for illustrating the re-selection of the
home operator executed when the class of some M2MEs is changed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] In the following embodiments, the term M2ME refers to any
kind of communication device that can access an operator's network
using subscription information such as an MCIM. Accordingly,
Connected Consumer Electronics (CCEs) are also included in the
category of M2ME.
(System Overview)
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates an overview of a network system 100
according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this
system, a user 101 owns an M2ME group 102, which includes a
plurality of M2MEs 103-1, 103-2, . . . , 103-n. In the following
description, an "M2ME 103" refers to a given one of the M2MEs
103-1, 103-2, . . . , 103-n. The M2ME 103 obtains an MCIM from a
network operator through the intervention of a Registration
Operator (RO) 104. The RO 104 comprises an operator selecting
apparatus 105, which selects a home operator (i.e., an SHO) for the
M2ME 103. In this embodiment, for the sake of simplicity, it is
assumed that there are two candidate operators (i.e., candidate
operators 106-1 and 106-2) that can serve the M2ME 103 as an SHO.
However, there may be three or more candidate operators. In the
following description, a "candidate operator 106" refers to a given
one of the candidate operators 106-1 and 106-2. The user 101 may
provide the operator selecting apparatus 105 with the information
regarding the M2ME group 102 via a client terminal 107.
[0019] The operator selecting apparatus 105 maintains an M2ME group
profile, M2ME context information, and a network operator profile.
Using these information items, the operator selecting apparatus 105
identifies the "best" candidate operator for each M2ME 103 taking
the cost and quality of service into account. Details of these
information items and the algorithm for identifying the best
candidate operator will be described below.
(M2ME Group Profile)
[0020] The M2ME group profile includes group information that
defines the M2ME group 102 and class information of each M2ME 103
in the M2ME group 102. The class information specifies whether the
M2ME 103 is a quality-oriented M2ME that prioritizes quality of
service over cost or a cost-oriented M2ME that prioritizes cost
over quality of service. Accordingly, the M2ME group profile allows
the operator selecting apparatus 105 to identify the M2MEs 103
forming the M2ME group 102 and to identify the preference of each
M2ME 103 in the M2ME group 102.
[0021] Table 1 shows an example of the M2ME group profile. The M2ME
identifier identifies each M2ME 103. For example, a PCID of the
M2ME 103 can be used as the M2ME identifier. The M2ME group
identifier identifies the M2ME group 102. Accordingly, the
combination of the M2ME group identifier and the M2ME identifier
corresponds to the group information that defines the M2ME group
102.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Example of M2ME Group Profile M2ME Group
M2ME Requested QoS Identifier M2ME Identifier Class Indicator 10050
429011234567890 Quality 7 10050 429011234567891 Quality 7 10050
429011234567892 Cost 9 10050 429011234567893 Quality 7 10050
429011234567894 Quality 7 . . . . . . . . . . . .
[0022] The M2ME class corresponds to the class information, and
specifies whether the M2ME 103 is quality-oriented or
cost-oriented.
[0023] The M2ME group profile may optionally include a requested
QoS indicator, which indicates a class of QoS requested for the
M2ME 103. For Example, the QCI defined in 3GPP TS 23.203 can be
used as a requested QoS indicator. In cases where the M2ME group
profile includes the requested QoS indicator and the network
operator profile includes a supported QoS indicator (described
later), the operator selecting apparatus 105 can consider whether
or not each candidate operator 106 supports the requested QoS when
it selects a home operator for the M2ME 103.
[0024] The operator selecting apparatus 105 may obtain the M2ME
group profile in various ways. For example, when the user 101 who
owns a plurality of M2MEs 103 wishes to manage them as a group, the
user 101 inputs, into the client terminal 107, information that
should form the M2ME group profile. Then, the user 101 transmits
the M2ME group profile from the client terminal 107 to the operator
selecting apparatus 105 via a network.
(M2ME Context Information)
[0025] The M2ME context information includes signal strength
information, which indicates signal strength of a radio signal
received by each M2ME 103. The signal strength information
indicates the signal strength for each candidate operator 106.
[0026] Table 2 shows an example of the M2ME context information. In
the "Signal Strength" field, numerals in parentheses represent the
signal strength. In this example, larger value represents a
stronger signal, and "0" indicates "out of coverage". The M2ME
context information may optionally include the currently selected
operator for each M2ME 103.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Example of M2ME Context Information M2ME
Identifier Signal Strength Selected Operator 429011234567890
NO-1(80), NO-2(55) NO-1 429011234567891 NO-1(81), NO-2(60) NO-1
429011234567892 NO-1(83), NO-2(62) NO-2 429011234567893 NO-1(78),
NO-2(61) NO-1 429011234567894 NO-1(79), NO-2(0) NO-1 . . . . . . .
. .
[0027] The operator selecting apparatus 105 can use the signal
strength information as quality information that specifies quality
of service provided to each M2ME 103 by each candidate operator
106. Specifically, with the signal strength information, when the
operator selecting apparatus 105 selects a home operator for each
M2ME 103, it can consider which candidate operator provides the
strongest radio signal to each M2ME 103.
[0028] It should be noted that the quality information is not
limited to the signal strength information. For example, the
supported QoS indicator, which may optionally be included in the
network operator profile and is described later, may also be used
as the quality information. In general, the quality information of
the present embodiment may be the signal strength information, the
supported QoS indicator, any information that can be an indicator
of quality of service of each candidate operator 106, or any
combination thereof. In cases where the signal strength information
is not used as the quality information, it is not necessary for the
operator selecting apparatus 105 to maintain the M2ME context
information.
[0029] The operator selecting apparatus 105 may obtain the M2ME
context information in various ways. For example, the operator
selecting apparatus 105 periodically receives the signal strength
information from each M2ME 103, and retains the latest signal
strength information as the M2ME context information.
(Network Operator Profile)
[0030] The network operator profile includes operator identifiers
of candidate operators and information representing billing systems
of the candidate operators. The combination of Mobile Country Code
(MCC) and Mobile Network Code (MNC) can be used as an operator
identifier.
[0031] In the example of the present embodiment, as described
above, there are two candidate operators 106-1 and 106-2 (in Table
3, they are represented by "NO-1" and "NO-2", respectively).
However, there may be three or more candidate operators. The group
of candidate operators may be defined in various ways. For example,
the user 101 may decide the group and inform the operator selecting
apparatus 105 of the group via the client terminal 107.
Alternatively, the operator selecting apparatus 105 may statically
have the information of the group in advance.
[0032] Table 3 shows an example of the network operator profile. In
the present embodiment, it is assumed that at least one of the
candidate operators has a billing system that is configured to
provide a discount in accordance with an increase of M2MEs in a
given group for which the candidate operator is selected as a home
operator. In the example of Table 3, the numeral in parentheses
represents the number of the subscribing M2MEs. Specifically, for
the candidate operator NO-2, if the number of subscribing M2MEs is
less than ten, each M2ME is charged 7 USD per month. However, if
ten or more M2MEs subscribe to the candidate operator NO-2, a
discount is made and each M2ME is charged 4.2 USD per month.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Example of Network Operator Profile Operator
Supported QoS Identifier Billing System Indicator NO-1 5 USD 1-7
NO-2 7 USD, 4.2 USD(10) 1-7
[0033] It should be noted that billing systems of candidate
operators are usually more complicated, and the cost per month may
not necessarily be constant, that is, the cost per month may vary
depending upon, for example, the number of packets that have
actually been transmitted/received by an M2ME. In addition,
different candidate operators may have billing systems in different
formats. In view of these circumstances, the operator selecting
apparatus 105 may normalize the billing system of each candidate
operator. In other words, as long as the "Billing System" field of
the network operator profile contains an indicator that can be used
to evaluate the cost of service as a home operator (i.e., SHO) by
the candidate operator, the operator selecting apparatus 105 may
process or normalize the billing system in any suitable manner.
[0034] The network operator profile may optionally include a
supported QoS indicator, which indicates a class of QoS supported
by the candidate operator. For example, the QCI defined in 3GPP TS
23.203 can be used as a supported QoS indicator. As described
above, in cases where the M2ME group profile includes the requested
QoS indicator and the network operator profile includes the
supported QoS indicator, the operator selecting apparatus 105 can
consider whether or not each candidate operator supports the
requested QoS when it selects a home operator for the M2ME 103.
[0035] The operator selecting apparatus 105 may obtain the network
operator profile in various ways. For example, the operator
selecting apparatus 105 may receive the billing system (to be
exact, information representing the billing system) and optionally
the supported QoS indicator from each candidate operator during the
setup of the operator selecting apparatus 105. In addition, when a
given candidate operator updates the billing system, that candidate
operator may send the updated billing system to the operator
selecting apparatus 105. In some embodiments, a candidate operator
may normalize the billing system and provide the operator selecting
apparatus 105 with the normalized billing system.
(Configuration of Operator Selecting Apparatus 105)
[0036] FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed configuration of the operator
selecting apparatus 105. The operator selecting apparatus 105
comprises a receiving unit 201, a billing system obtaining unit
202, a quality information obtaining unit 203, a first selecting
unit 204, a second selecting unit 205, a memory 206, an acquiring
unit 207, and a forwarding unit 208. In some embodiments, the
acquiring unit 207 and the forwarding unit 208 may be located
outside the operator selecting apparatus 105, and may be located
somewhere in the RO 104. In cases where the operator selecting
apparatus 105 comprises the acquiring unit 207 and the forwarding
unit 208, the operator selecting apparatus 105 itself can execute
functions as an RO. It should be noted that the functionality of
each block in the operator selecting apparatus 105 may be
implemented using dedicated hardware, using software executed by a
processor (not shown), or a combination thereof. The detailed
operations of each block in the operator selecting apparatus 105
will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
3.
(Operator Selecting Procedure)
[0037] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of the operator
selecting procedure executed by the operator selecting apparatus
105 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0038] In step S301, the receiving unit 201 receives the M2ME group
profile from the client terminal 107, and stores the received M2ME
group profile in the memory 206 (see Table 1). In the present
embodiment, it is assumed that the M2ME group information includes
the group information and the class information for the M2ME group
102.
[0039] In step S302, the billing system obtaining unit 202 obtains
the billing system of each candidate operator 106. As described
above, the billing system may be normalized by the billing system
obtaining unit 202 or each candidate operator 106. The billing
system obtaining unit 202 stores the obtained billing system in the
memory 206 to form the network operator profile (see Table 3).
[0040] In step S303, the quality information obtaining unit 203
obtains the quality information that specifies quality of service
provided to each M2ME 103 by each candidate operator 106. As
described above, the quality information may be the signal strength
information, the supported QoS indicator, the combination thereof,
or the like. Regarding the signal strength information, the quality
information obtaining unit 203 obtains it from each M2ME 103 in the
M2ME group 102, and stores the obtained signal strength information
in the memory 206 as a part of the M2ME context information (see
Table 2). Regarding the supported QoS indicator, the quality
information obtaining unit 203 obtains it from each candidate
operator 106, and stores the obtained supported QoS indicator in
the memory 206 as a part of the network operator profile (see Table
3).
[0041] It should be noted that in cases where the supported QoS
indicator is used as the quality information, the receiving unit
201 receives the requested QoS indicator of each M2ME 103 and
stores it in the memory 206 as a part of the M2ME group profile
(see Table 1).
[0042] In step S304, the first selecting unit 204 identifies the
quality-oriented M2MEs in the M2ME group 102 based on the M2ME
group profile in the memory 206. Then, the first selecting unit 204
selects, for each quality-oriented M2ME, a candidate operator out
of the plurality of candidate operators 106 that provides the best
quality of service to the M2ME. An example of the detailed process
in step S304 will be described later with reference to FIG. 4.
[0043] In step S305, the second selecting unit 205 identifies the
cost-oriented M2MEs in the M2ME group 102 based on the M2ME group
profile in the memory 206. Then, the second selecting unit 205
selects, for each cost-oriented M2ME, a candidate operator out of
the plurality of candidate operators 106 such that a total cost for
all the M2MEs 103 in the M2ME group 102 becomes lowest. It should
be noted that the second selecting unit 205 may perform the
selection of this step under the condition that quality of service
provided to each cost-oriented M2ME does not fall below a threshold
(e.g., a candidate operator whose signal strength falls below "10"
should not be selected). An example of the detailed process in step
S305 will be described later.
[0044] In step S306, the acquiring unit 207 acquires, for each M2ME
103 in the M2ME group 102, an MCIM of the candidate operator
selected in step S304 or S305 by the first selecting unit 204 or
the second selecting unit 205.
[0045] In step S307, the forwarding unit 208 forwards, to each M2ME
103 in the M2ME group 102, the corresponding MCIM acquired in step
S306 by the acquiring unit 207.
[0046] As a result of the operator selecting procedure described in
FIG. 3, a candidate operator, which is "best" in terms of the
balance between the total cost and the overall quality, is selected
for each M2ME 103 as a home operator.
(Example of Detailed Processes in Step S304)
[0047] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an example of
the detailed process in step S304 of FIG. 3. In this example, it is
assumed that the quality information includes both the signal
strength information and the supported QoS indicator. The process
of FIG. 4 is executed for each quality-oriented M2ME. The following
description of FIG. 4 relates to a given one of the
quality-oriented M2MEs.
[0048] In step S401, the first selecting unit 204 identifies, based
on the signal strength information stored in the memory 206, a
candidate operator, out of all the candidate operators 106, whose
signal strength of the radio signal received by the
quality-oriented M2ME is strongest.
[0049] In step S402, the first selecting unit 204 checks the number
of candidate operators identified in step S401. If only one
candidate operator is identified in step S401, the processing
proceeds to step S403, and the first selecting unit 204 selects the
identified candidate operator as a home operator for the
quality-oriented M2ME. On the other hand, if two or more candidate
operators are identified in step S401, the processing proceeds to
step S404.
[0050] In step S404, the first selecting unit 204 identifies, based
on the requested QoS indicator and the supported QoS indicator
stored in the memory 206, a candidate operator, out of the
candidate operators identified in step S401, which supports the
class of quality of service requested for the quality-oriented
M2ME.
[0051] In step S405, the first selecting unit 204 checks the number
of candidate operators identified in step S404. If only one
candidate operator is identified in step S404, the processing
proceeds to step S403. On the other hand, if two or more candidate
operators are identified in step S404, the processing proceeds to
step S406, and the first selecting unit 204 identifies, based on
the operator network profile stored in the memory 206, a candidate
operator, out of the candidate operators identified in step S404,
whose cost for the quality-oriented M2ME is lowest. Alternatively,
if no candidate operator is identified in step S407 (i.e., in the
case where no candidate operator supports the class of quality of
service requested for the quality-oriented M2ME), the processing
proceeds to step S407, and the first selecting unit 204 identifies,
based on the operator network profile stored in the memory 206, a
candidate operator, out of the candidate operators identified in
step S401, whose cost for the quality-oriented M2ME is lowest.
[0052] In step S408, the first selecting unit 204 checks the number
of candidate operators identified in step S406 or S407. If only one
candidate operator is identified in step S406 or S407, the
processing proceeds to step S403. On the other hand, if two or more
candidate operators are identified in step S406 or S407, the
processing proceeds to step S409, and the first selecting unit 204
randomly selects a candidate operator, out of the candidate
operators identified in step S406 or S407, as a home operator for
the quality-oriented M2ME.
(Example of Detailed Processes in Step S305)
[0053] The second selecting unit 205 can minimize the total cost
for the M2ME group 102 in accordance with various algorithms. For
example, it is assumed that the costs of the candidate operators
106-1 and 106-2 for one M2ME are specified by f(m) and g(n),
respectively, where m/n is the number of M2MEs subscribing to the
candidate operator 106-1/106-2. It is also assumed that the M2ME
group 102 includes ten M2MEs, three of which are quality-oriented
and seven of which are cost-oriented. As a result of the process in
step S304 of FIG. 3, the candidate operator 106-1 is selected for
one quality-oriented M2ME and the candidate operator 106-2 is
selected for two quality-oriented M2MEs. In this case, the total
cost y is derived from the following formula.
y=f(x)x+g(10-x)(10-x), where 1.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.8
[0054] Accordingly, in order to minimize the total cost, the second
selecting unit 205 executes the computation to identify x that
minimizes y, and selects the candidate operator 106-1 for (x-1)
cost-oriented M2MEs and selects the candidate operator 106-2 for
(10-x) cost-oriented M2MEs.
(Re-Selection of Home Operator)
[0055] When the precondition related to the selection of a home
operator changes, the operator selecting apparatus 105 may execute
the re-selection of a home operator for each M2ME 103. For example,
the re-selection may be executed in the following cases.
[0056] A new M2ME is added to the M2ME group 102, or some M2ME is
removed from the M2ME group 102.
[0057] The class (quality-oriented or cost-oriented) of some M2ME
is changed.
[0058] The quality information, such as the signal strength
information, of some M2ME changes.
[0059] Billing system of some candidate operator is changed.
[0060] If the operator selecting apparatus 105 detects the change
of the prediction, the operator selecting apparatus 105 updates the
M2ME group profile, the M2ME context information, and the network
operator profile stored in the memory 206 as needed, and executes
the processes from step S304 in FIG. 3.
[0061] The operator selecting apparatus 105 detects the change of
the prediction in various ways. For example, regarding the signal
strength information, the quality information obtaining unit 203
periodically receives the signal strength information from each
M2ME 103. Regarding the billing system, when a candidate operator
updates their billing system, the candidate operator sends the
updated billing system to the operator selecting apparatus 105, and
the billing system obtaining unit 202 obtains the sent billing
system.
[0062] Hereinafter, the cases wherein the signal strength
information changes and wherein the class of some M2MEs is changed
are described.
[0063] FIG. 5 is a diagram for illustrating the re-selection of a
home operator executed when the signal strength information
changes. In this example, the M2ME group 102 includes 15
quality-oriented M2MEs and 5 cost-oriented M2MEs. Quality-oriented
M2MEs and cost-oriented M2MEs are depicted by a circle and a
rectangle, respectively. The dotted line indicates a boundary of
condition in terms of signal strength. In FIG. 4, the candidate
operators 106-1 and 106-2 are depicted as "NO-1" and "NO-2",
respectively, and their billing systems are those described in
Table 3. The candidate operator 106-2 provides stronger signal
strength than the candidate operator 106-1 in the area above the
dotted line. Note that all the M2MEs 103 are within wireless
coverage of both the candidate operators 106-1 and 106-2.
[0064] In the initial stage (see Scenario-A in FIG. 5), the
selection of a home operator for each M2ME 103 is executed in
accordance with the operator selecting procedure shown in FIG. 3.
As a result, the candidate operator 106-1 is selected for sixteen
M2MEs, and the candidate operator 106-2 is selected for four
M2MEs.
[0065] Then, it is assumed that the condition of the signal
strength within the geographical area changes due to, for example,
deployment of Base Stations. In this example, the region in which
the candidate operator 106-2 provides stronger signal strength than
the candidate operator 106-1 becomes broader (i.e., the dotted line
moves lower as shown in Scenario-B-1 of FIG. 5). In this case, the
operator selecting apparatus 105 re-selects a home operator for the
quality-oriented M2MEs in accordance with the process of step S304
in FIG. 3. As a result, as indicated in Scenario-B-1 in FIG. 5, a
home operator for two M2MEs is changed from the candidate operator
106-1 to the candidate operator 106-2 because these two M2MEs can
be provided stronger radio signal by the candidate operator 106-2
(the two M2MEs in question are pointed by arrows in FIG. 5). Next,
the operator selecting apparatus 105 re-selects a home operator for
the cost-oriented M2MEs in accordance with the process of step S305
in FIG. 3. As a result, as indicated in Scenario-B-2 in FIG. 5, a
home operator for five M2MEs is changed from the candidate operator
106-1 to the candidate operator 106-2 in order to benefit from the
discount provided by the candidate operator 106-2.
[0066] FIG. 6 is a diagram for illustrating the re-selection of a
home operator executed when the class of some M2MEs is changed. In
FIG. 6, the initial condition is the same as that of FIG. 5. In
this example, it is assumed that the user 101 changes the M2ME
class of two M2MEs from quality-oriented to cost-oriented via the
client terminal 107, as indicated in Scenario-B-1 in FIG. 6. In
this case, the operator selecting apparatus 105 executes the
re-selection in a similar manner to that of the case shown in FIG.
5, although step S304 can be skipped in this case. As a result, the
home operator is selected as shown in Scenario-B-2 in FIG. 6.
(Summary of Embodiment)
[0067] As described above, the operator selecting apparatus 105
executes the operator selecting procedure (see FIG. 3) while taking
the balance between the total cost and the overall quality into
account. In this procedure, a price discount is also taken into
account.
[0068] Accordingly, it is possible to facilitate the selection of a
home operator for a large number of communication devices while
taking both cost and quality into account.
[0069] While the present invention has been described with
reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments.
The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent structures and functions.
* * * * *